Write-a-Thon

We are extremely delighted to receive such an overwhelming response from students of various reputed schools and colleges from all over India who participated in the said essay completion in celebration of National Sports Day. Sport shows intellectual property (IP) in action. Patents encourage technological advances that result in better sporting equipment. Trademarks, brands and designs contribute to the distinct identity of events, teams and their gear. Copyright-related rights generate the revenues needed for broadcasters to invest in the costly undertaking of broadcasting sports events to fans all over the world. IP rights are the basis of licensing and merchandising agreements that earn revenues to support development of the sports industry.

This year, the underlying idea behind choosing a theme related to Intellectual Property while celebrating National Sports Day is to explore how innovation is making our lives healthier, safer, and more comfortable by turning problems into progress. The epoch-making changes that we have undergone in the past was given birth to by the ordinary people who innovate extraordinary things for the better. Their innovations take myriad forms, from the mundane to the seemingly miraculous. Innovation is a human force that knows no limits which turns problems into progress pushing the boundaries of possibility, creating unprecedented new capabilities.

India being a cornucopia of knowledge, capabilities and skill has left no stone unturned in protecting its creativity. In the recent times Indian Judiciary has delivered such judgments in the sphere of Intellectual Property which apart from expanding its scope in India have also been exemplary worldwide.

Last year saw many significant IP developments, for instance the most awaited National IPR Policy, was approved by the Union Cabinet and made public by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion on May 12, 2016, that laid down the future roadmap for Intellectual Property Protection and Management in India. In terms of IPR awareness, 2016 was laden with one government initiative after the other. The year began with the Start-Up India: Stand-Up India campaign which was launched on January 16, 2016. The campaign is an action plan aimed at promoting bank financing for start-up ventures to boost entrepreneurship and encourage Start-Ups with job creation. The policy hopes to restrict the role of states in the policy domain and to get rid of the license raj and hindrances like land permissions, foreign investment proposal, environmental clearances, etc. To further facilitate a culture of innovation, the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks released the ‘Scheme for Facilitating Start-ups Intellectual Property Protection’. The major objective of the scheme is to protect and promote Intellectual Property Rights awareness for start-ups and to encourage creativity and innovation amongst them by the appointment of IP facilitators. As an incentive, the start-ups shall not have to pay any kind of fee for seeking services from the facilitators. Instead, the facilitators shall directly be paid by the Central Government through the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks. The Courts also rendered some noteworthy judgments and observations like in the DU Photocopy case, the Prius Trademarks Infringement case, the green light given to Biocon by the Delhi High Court to continue to market the breast cancer drug, Traztuzumab.

We however look forward to more such milestones by the Indian Judiciary which strikes a balance between creativity and public interest.

Write-a-Thon– The Results

Of the multiple entries received, we have shortlisted the winning entries –
The winners of the Competition are –

College Category –

Bhavik Shukla, of National Law Institute University, Bhopal who wrote on the topic, ‘Unauthorized Live Streaming of Sporting Events: Challenges and Solutions’.

Aman Rathore, of National Law University, Odisha, who wrote on the topic, ‘Ambush Marketing: How Stringent are the Laws for the Olympics?’

Sanjana Banerjee, of the National University of Advanced Legal Studies, who wrote on the topic, ‘Ambush Marketing and the Deadly Silence of Indian Lawmakers’.

School Category –

Neha Yadav, of Navy Children School, Visakhapatnam, who wrote on the topic, ‘Broadcasting & Media Rights in Sport’

Heartiest Congratulations on behalf IP4kids, S.S. Rana & Co., and Boltt Sports Technologies to all the winners, with the top three ranked students winning prizes sponsored by our chief Sponsor for the event, Boltt Technologies Private Limited.

The winners will also get a chance to intern with our firm for a period of one month.

All participants shall receive a participation certificate from the firm.

We encourage such participation from students of all educational institutes in the future.